History of Definitions of ET

History of the term “Exploratory Testing” as applied to software testing within the Rapid Software Testing methodology space.

For a discussion of the some of the social and philosophical issues surrounding this chronology, see Exploratory Testing 3.0.

1988

First known use of the term, defined variously as “quick tests”; “whatever comes to mind”; “guerrilla raids” – Cem Kaner, Testing Computer Software (There is explanatory text for different styles of ET in the 1988 edition of Testing Computer Software. Cem says that some of the text was actually written in 1983.)

1990

“Organic Quality Assurance”, James Bach’s first talk on agile testing filmed by Apple Computer, which discussed exploratory testing without using the words agile or exploratory.

1993

June: “Persistence of Ad Hoc Testing” talk given at ICST conference by James Bach. Beginning of James’ abortive attempt to rehabilitate the term “ad hoc.”

1995

February: First appearance of “exploratory testing” on Usenet in message by Cem Kaner.

1995

Exploratory testing means learning, planning, and testing all at the same time. – James Bach (Market Driven Software Testing class)

Any testing to the extent that the tester actively controls the design of the tests as those tests are performed and uses information gained while testing to design new and better tests.

The Kaner View

Any testing to the extent that the tester actively controls the design of the tests as those tests are performed, uses information gained while testing to design new and better tests, and where the following conditions apply:

The tester is not required to use or follow any particular test materials or procedures.

The tester is not required to produce materials or procedures that enable test re-use by another tester or management review of the details of the work done.

– Resolution between Bach and Kaner following WHET #1 and BBST class at Satisfice Tech Center.

(To account for both of views, James started speaking of the “scripted/exploratory continuum” which has greatly helped in explaining ET to factory-style testers)

2003-2006

Simultaneous learning, test design, and test execution – Bach, Kaner

2006-2015

An approach to software testing that emphasizes the personal freedom and responsibility of each tester to continually optimize the value of his work by treating learning, test design and test execution as mutually supportive activities that run in parallel throughout the project. – (Bach/Bolton edit of Kaner suggestion)

2015

Exploratory testing is now a deprecated term within Rapid Software Testing methodology. See testing, instead. (In other words, all testing is exploratory to some degree. The definition of testing in the RST space is now: Evaluating a product by learning about it through exploration and experimentation, including to some degree: questioning, study, modeling, observation, inference, etc.)